Book and index unit



April 2, 1940- I G. F. GREEN 2,195,646

BOOK AND INDEX UNIT Filed Sept. 14, 1938 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G 'ge Felix Green,

April 2, 1940. G. F. GREEN 2,195,646

BOOK AND INDEX UNIT Filed Sept. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Fi :4.

P Q? 13 Ink enter.

Geotge. Felix Green.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 ounce-sures Application September 14, 1938; Serial 'No; 229,859 k In Canada september l, 1 937 4 Claims. 31. 2839-38) 1 The principal objectsof this invention are to provide a means for indexing books, particularly telephone and other directories, which maybe readily placed in position between the pages of the book to afford means for readily opening the bookat the desired ,place'. and which will provide accommodation for the placing .of selected names, addresses-and numbers for rapid reference.

' a a series of index members, the tabs of which projecting beyond thmbOOk'lGfiVES will overlap so that they will afford protection against damage through rough usage, and further to devise a tab which will not'be readily damaged. The principal features of the invention consist in the novel construction of strips of toughpaper,

metal or fabric having means atone end for securing same between the book'leavesat or close to the binding of the book and having at the other end a hinged index tab adapted to' project beyond the book leaves and to be operable to spread the leaves apart to facilitate the entry of the finger between the leaves, said stripbeing adapted to receive entries of selected addresses,

names or numbers. I

.In the accompanying drawings U Figure l is a perspective view of an open book showing the application of my invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view'of'one of the index strips ready to beinserted in a book.

Figure 3 is a perspective detail of "a modifiedform of index strip of doubled formation. =Figure 4' is a perspective detail of a modified formof index strip. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective detail; of a portion of a further modified form of index strip showing a modified means of fasteningsame in the book.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational further view of the bound back of a book illustrating the application of the strip-shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an enlarged perspective ,detail-of a portion of an index strip showing a further modification of means for fastening same in the binding. c v c Figure 8 isan enlarged elevational detail of a portion of the front edge of a book illustrating the overlapping arrangement of the index meme bers. l c Figure 9 is a plan view of a portion-of a book showing the arrangement of several overlapping index members.

Figure .10 is an enlarged elevational detail of A further and important object is to provide 'aeportion of a book showing the application of the leafllifting index tab.

Figure ll'is a view similar to fFigure' 10 showing a slightly vmodified form oflifting tab structure. 4 f j t Figure 12 is a plan detail of an index strip of the form illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a plan detail of an index strip as illustrated in Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a detail view'showing the hinge joint of the index strip.

Telephone and other formsjof directories and books are subject to constant use and much valuable time is wasted in locating the desired, information due to the fact that such publications vare not provided with any form of index means for readily :locatingthe desired section. Such constant use results in the very rapid deterioration of the book which of course, aggravates the condition and results in increased'los's of time withi much annoyance.

It is the' purpose of this invention to provide means for effectively and economically indexing such books and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As shown'particularly.inFigures 1 and 2 the index members i are formed of a strip of tough,

comparatively stiff material having 'a gummed strip 2 on one side thereof at one end and the other end is doubled under and cemented to form the inward edgeof the tab which forms a hinge a reinforced tab 3. The strip is preferably formed to permit the: tab to bend readily so that the strip will not crack and its usefulness be impaired A score mark 5 isalso provided extending across a the strip adjacent tothe gummed surface to permit the hinging of the strip atzitsinner end;.

' The surfaces of the index strip I are preferably printed with spaced lines an'dcolumns to accommodate the entry of memoranda of names, addressesand numbers that 'may be required for ready reference under theindex. letter of the tab.

The top surface of each tab is preferably printed in black with a white index letter at the lower edge and above. the letter is across line 6 which serves the purpose of a'guide in placing the index strips in a book, the line above the index letter being intended to register with the lower edge of'the index strip arranged immediately thereover.

The index strips as shown are preferably approximately an inch in width and as the tabs 3 are the full width of the. strips when an alphabetical set of strips are placed in a book the tabs erted to bend the tab downwardly't'he lug presses upwardly lifting and separating the leaves overlap and if a book is dropped so that the index tabs are struck the tabs support each other from being broken oil, as will be seen on reference to Figure 8.

In the slight modification shown in Figures 3 and 7 the index strips are doubled and the doubled end is secured to the book while the tab end projects beyond the outer end of the under portion. The reason forthe doubled strip is to provide more "space for the recording ofspecial data on its surfaces.

In certain forms of books it may be found .desirable to provide some-mechanical means for securing the index strips and such a means is illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 in which a thin metal strip I, provided with pointed ends 8, is threaded through a slot 9 in the single strip Ill inrFigure 5 or the slots H and I2 shown in the doubled'over strip shown in Figure 7. These strips are fas. tened in the book by having the pointed ends 8 of the 'metal 'fasteners pushed through slots in the binding and the ends are bent over as shown in Figure 6 thereby-holding the strip-securely on a hinge connection. I

In the form of theinvention illustrated in Figure4 the strip til-isprovided with lugs Hi projecting from one longitudinal edge and these lugs are gummed 'on one side tofbe fastened to the faceof a. page so-that the strip maybe turned over, 'hingingon'the lugs soas to enable ready access to both faces oitherecording surface.

.lug l5 extends "rigidly inward from the hinged portion of'the tab 'so that-when pressure is exabove the index strip'from the leaves :below said strip.

In the form illustrated in Figures 11 and 13 a thin piece of metal or stiff card; may be secured in the 'double-jover tab structure to serve the same purpose as the lug i5.

It willbe understood that this index will be 1 provided inLan alphabetical set to be applied to a bookand in placing same the Z index is inserted at the bottom otthefirstpage of the Z entries in the book. The Y indexstrip is then inserted .over the first page of the Y entries and with the removed from a book, especially if a mechanical means for fastening the strips, such as is shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, is used. It will of course,

apage and hence be objectionable as a hindrance to therapid scanning of the directory page.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A book indexunit ccrnprising in combinat on with a book, a flexible strip of tough fibrous material adapted tobe secured between the leaves of the boot: and having an index tab hinged transversely of the strip at the outer end thereof,

tab having a rigid extension extending be tween thexof the bookadapted to lift leaves err-the tilting. of the hinged index tab.

2. A book index unit comprisingin combination with-a book, a member adapted to be inserted betweenntheileaves of the book and to be secured thereto and having theouter edge thereof doubled and being scored transversely .at the ii'ward side of the .doubledportienrtoprovidea flexible hinge joint, said doublededge embracing a still member extending inwardly therefrom cc-$3 yond the transverse "score to engage between the lea'vesrof the book and :adapted on the pressure -of the fin'ger thereagainstmto swing about the transverse scorerto:liftttheleaves above the index 3. Abook index unit-comprising thecombination with a book 'of a; strip 30f: material adapted for insertion between the leaves of the book, said strip having aasubstantiallyrigid index tab hing edly connected with the outer end, said tab hinged connection-being so constructed and arranged that-by :pressing'transversely thereon the tab will swing onits hingemounting; relative to the strip to-exert a -separating lever-like force (in- 1 the leaves, the face of saidstr-ipbeing adapted for the reception of quick'reference data.

*4. A book index unit comprising the tion with tar-book, of a strip-"of" flexible: material having onerend arranged tobe secured in thebook adjacent the binding and 1 having a rein forced tab hingedlyconnected with'the outer end pressure thereto to swingon its'hinge connection and exert a lever-like separating force on the leaves.

GEORGE F.- GREEN.

tab and form-a1 recess fort-heinsertionof that finger tipslto'open the book. 1 

